I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie

Pamela Des Barres

Jan 2005 · Chicago Review Press

About this ebook

The stylish, exuberant, and remarkably sweet confession of one of the most famous groupies of the 1960s and 70s is back in print in this new edition that includes an afterword on the author's last 15 years of adventures. As soon as she graduated from high school, Pamela Des Barres headed for the Sunset Strip, where she knocked on rock stars' backstage doors and immersed herself in the drugs, danger, and ecstasy of the freewheeling 1960s. Over the next 10 years she had affairs with Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, Waylon Jennings, Chris Hillman, Noel Redding, and Jim Morrison, among others. She traveled with Led Zeppelin; lived in sin with Don Johnson; turned down a date with Elvis Presley; and was close friends with Robert Plant, Gram Parsons, Ray Davies, and Frank Zappa. As a member of the GTO's, a girl group masterminded by Frank Zappa, she was in the thick of the most revolutionary renaissance in the history of modern popular music. Warm, witty, and sexy, this kiss-and-tell–all stands out as the perfect chronicle of one of rock 'n' roll's most thrilling eras.

Ratings and reviews

I am 36 years old. My Mom had this book when I was a preteen. I only read the poems and some other parts. She probably didn't know I was reading it...she wouldn't have let me at that age. I tore out the poem "I wonder how many grains of sand...". I kept that for years but, I eventually lost it. I have for years been trying to find it. I loved it so much. I could remember most of it but, had forgotten some. Now I have found it and can't wait to read it in it's entirety. So excited!!!!

This is the Greatest Book I've ever read on a behind the scenes, true idolizing, follow you anywhere groupie that really loved, made love to and partied with the Biggest, Greatest names and Rock & Roll Icons in the History of Rock Music! I devoured this book & her " Take Another Little Piece of my Heart " book each in about 2 days max per book! I didn't KNOW she had a third one out! For those of you who think Bobbie Brown's book is the bomb, start with this FIRST! She really did it (and them!) all! This goes beyond just wishing.... Though Pamela hasn't starred in any rock videos, so I do look forward to reading " Dirty Rocker Boys ". Now I gotta get her 3rd book! Great Read! Okay.... Now I've gone & read most l of the comments from what I'm determining to be a MUCH Younger Crowd.... & You guys are making me feel OLD!! Jeepers Guys! What excites young people today? Sid Vicious more accommodating? Goodness... Maybe she smoked weed & dropped Acid instead of snorting Cocaine and smoking crack! But the Game is still the same! If half of these people walked out on their Grandmother's like they walked out on this book..... Like the one reader who said it best when she said " I didn't KNOW who half of them were.... ", if they Googled 1/10th of the connection's associated with Ms. Barr's, they'd understand that we're talking the " Foundation " in many ways, and trailblazers of Rock & Roll Music. We're also talking REAL MUSICIANS back​ then! Today, you don't need a skill or a trade to be famous. So many " Reality Star's " got their FAME from the Sweat & Talent of their Parents! When all you gotta do these days is have fake boobs, (heck, not even! Just showing skin!) & a Twitter account, Instagram account, & Facebook page, & a decent face, & that's not even a must have!, You can be become FAMOUS overnight by the simplest, dumbest, or dangerous things in the world of social media today! And I'm correct on that assumption, as another commenter put it bluntly, "Too Boring.... "! Wow.... I guess if that's " Old School", I'm Guilty. And as Shinedown sang in their song, " The Sound of Madness ", I'm 'still here to explain...' and not dead from overdoses or gunshot wounds! Some how I think I got the better Deal, ya know?

Interesting start to finish and every word makes you fall more in love with Miss Pamela. Such a creative and beautiful being.

About the author

Pamela Des Barres is the author of Rock Bottom and Take Another Little Piece of My Heart. She has written for Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone, appeared on Geraldo, Jenny Jones, Larry King Live, Oprah, numerous MTV and VH-1 specials, and was the subject of an E! True Hollywood story. She lives in Los Angeles.